TPAC recommends adding Spears Creek Church Road sidewalks, votes to remove Polo Road from 2012 penny carryover

The Transportation Penny Advisory Committee recommended inserting sidewalks along Spears Creek Church Road into a future penny funding package and voted to remove Polo Road widening from the county's carryforward list.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend adding a two-and-a-half mile stretch of sidewalk on both sides of Spears Creek Church Road from I-20 to Two Notch Road and to place that sidewalk for funding consideration in the next penny (referred to in the meeting as "Penny 2"). Committee members discussed right-of-way already preserved under the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) plans and the need for ADA ramps and crossings if sidewalks are added. Staff said the sidewalk scope covers the paved walking surface and associated ADA work; easements and additional right-of-way were not expected because SCDOT's approved right-of-way plan accounts for the space.

Michael Maloney, the transportation program presenter, outlined ongoing and upcoming projects and told the committee the Spears Creek Church Road sidewalk addition would be phased into future funding because the current penny (Penny 1) does not include that sidewalks scope. Members discussed the length of the recommended sidewalks (described in the meeting as roughly 2.5 miles each side) and the potential funding implications.

The committee also voted unanimously to remove the widening of Polo Road from 2 Notch to Mallet Hill from the 2012 penny project list after staff said Polo Road will be covered by the current Penny 1 program and therefore no longer needs to be carried forward. Staff said removing Polo Road from the carryforward list improved the outlook on the project sheet by about $20,000,000 and that several large widening projects coming to bid in the next year will better determine available funding when bids are received.

Discussion and staff notes

Maloney gave an overview of multiple project statuses, including Atlas Road, Pineview Road area improvements, Blythewood Road widening, Smith Rocky Branch and Gills Creek trail segments, and Deals Creek land acquisition moving into right-of-way acquisition. He said some parcels within city limits will require annexation so the city can maintain certain segments of trail. He said for Spears Creek Church Road the design allows sidewalks and SCDOT-approved right-of-way plans include room for them, which is why staff recommended adding sidewalks into the next penny's list rather than attempting to fund them now.

Speakers raised committee-role questions about scoping and descoping work the committee was charged to review when the Penny 1 ordinance began; staff said they would invite Administrator Brown or a designee to the next meeting to explain the committee's directives under the ordinance.

Votes at a glance

- Recommendation to include 2.5 miles of sidewalk on both sides of Spears Creek Church Road (I-20 to Two Notch Road) for future penny funding; motion made by Mister Kamal; second not clearly recorded in the transcript; vote: unanimous in favor.

- Motion to remove Polo Road widening (2 Notch to Mallet Hill) from the 2012 penny carryforward list because it will be completed under Penny 1; motion moved by Miss Kiefer; second recorded as Haskell Gibler; vote: unanimous in favor.

What this means next

Staff told the committee the sidewalks would be added to a list for the next penny's funding consideration and that final inclusion would depend on the timing and outcome of future penny planning and available budgets when large project bids are returned. Staff also noted there is planned inflation allowance in Penny 1 and that pending big project bids (Shop Road, Broad River Road, Spears Creek Church Road, Polo Road) will inform final budget capacity.

Provenance

topicintro: "I'll give you a update on some of the projects in progress and then, kind of go back to the sidewalk program," (Michael Maloney, transportation program) (transcript excerpt)

topicfinish: "That that changes the outlook on this sheet by $20,000,000. So, and, you know, as we get closer to the end of the project..." (Michael Maloney, transportation program) (transcript excerpt)